Tokyo reward flights

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Mar 28, 2024, 4:41 am

realrose123

Original Poster

Join Date: Mar 2024

Posts: 1

Tokyo reward flights

Please forgive my ignorance as I only know the very basics here. I usually book reward Business Class flights to Orlando and use my Companion Voucher to Barbados / St Lucia each year and can get by... However, we are hoping to go to Tokyo next Spring so the 355 days is here or thereabouts but I just can't see any availability. Am I likely to get anything and if so, how best to go about it. I do apologise if I have posted in the wrong place but would appreciate any help.

Mar 28, 2024, 5:20 am

kriscii

Join Date: May 2006

Location: LHR

Programs: HH Gold; BA Gold; Hertz PC

Posts: 102

Looks like you are only able to book 350 days ahead to Tokyo today, even with cash. I'm not sure why it is not 355 days but could be changes on the route coming. Might be worth a call,

I booked my redemption to Tokyo 355 days ahead a few years while in the back of a taxi in India! So a call is always worth trying.

As it is coming into cherry blossom season you need to be booking at the moment the availability is released, midnight at the moment and 1am when BST starts on Monday.

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Mar 28, 2024, 6:41 am

higham44

Join Date: Oct 2005

Location: Kent, UK

Programs: BA Gold; Virgin FF; United Airlines; American Airlines; and was frequent c/c churner - RIP!

Posts: 945

Quote:

Originally Posted by realrose123

You are not alone in looking for reward flights to Tokyo; I too am seeking the same. It has become increasingly popular as a destination and as such reward flights come and go in an instant and, from what I have seen, where there is availability (which lasts momentarily) there is one seat. As an alternative, I have looked at redemptions with Qatar using Avios out of LHR via DOH and have had more success in finding availability (160,000 Avios per person return in Qsuites, which is cheaper than a BA redemption but you cannot use 2-4-1) in Feb/March 2025. Depending on your Avios balance that might be an option worth exploring.

PS: Welcome to Flyertalk

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Mar 28, 2024, 7:18 am

mikeyfly

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: May 2014

Location: UK

Programs: BA Gold

Posts: 12,262

Here’s the thread to read on 241 usage. Four J seats should open on every flight at 355 days out BA American Express companion voucher | master thread

Mar 28, 2024, 8:32 am

DeathSlam

Join Date: Oct 2014

Location: UK

Programs: BAEC

Posts: 1,861

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyfly

Here’s the thread to read on 241 usage. Four J seats should open on every flight at 355 days out BA American Express companion voucher | master thread

Not super-helpful as OP has already tried T-355 and found nothing. The other answers before yours seem to potentially be more useful.
It's been a few years since I've booked a reward to Japan, but the buzz on FT is that it's getting harder to bag them (especially in spring) so you need to ring at midnight and hope and there seems to be an issue of 355 release maybe not happening as well.

Mar 28, 2024, 9:13 am

lcylocal

Join Date: Oct 2017

Programs: Honors Diamond

Posts: 1,640

Tokyo seats, particularly in premium cabins, do go very very quickly. Given phone agents can hold them and booking online you cannot, I would suggest you also need to call and be speaking to the agent at Midnight GMT.

Mar 28, 2024, 11:10 am

OGG flyer

Join Date: Jun 2018

Programs: BA, Avis, Amex

Posts: 414

Quote:

Originally Posted by realrose123

I am using the maximum visa waiver allowance of 180 days per year in Japan , spread across multiple long trips.

I have had excellent availability on JAL in business. I appreciate it may not be for you if you set on using AMEX voucher,but it's an option if you have enough Miles. I also had a lot of luck with Finn air in business lhr-tokyo,all last minute redemptions (via HEL)

Last edited by OGG flyer; Mar 28, 2024 at 11:20 am

Mar 28, 2024, 11:24 am

DeathSlam

Join Date: Oct 2014

Location: UK

Programs: BAEC

Posts: 1,861

Quote:

Originally Posted by realrose123

Please forgive my ignorance

Oh, and Welcome to FT by the way

I am not one of the ambassadors, maybe one of them will be along to say hello.
But I see that it's your first post despite obviously being a veteran of the rewards sphere, so kudos for jumping in.

Mar 28, 2024, 4:37 pm

GoNorth

Join Date: Jan 2024

Programs: BA Gold

Posts: 119

Japan is a great place to visit. I'm assuming that you may well be looking at Spring as it's blossom season which can make it difficult to get availability. I'm working my way through the seasons and have recently booked Winter 24/25 using my Amex 2-4-1 which unlocked extra seats in Club so I was lucky. If you can give any more insights into what you're looking to achieve then I'm sure the community will be able to try and help.

Mar 29, 2024, 9:19 am

#10

EDDLEGLL

Join Date: Jan 2018

Programs: BA Gold, Sixt Platinum

Posts: 316

Availability for one way only, Tokyo to London, has been really good throughout this spring season actually (and even last minute). So it might be worth to consider a one-way cash ticket (possibly on another (oneworld) airline) there and a BA avios reward ticket back.

Mar 30, 2024, 2:55 pm

#11

callahana

Join Date: Sep 2012

Posts: 9

Try Iberia from MAD

If you’re struggling to get BA redemption seats to Tokyo I would recommend trying Iberia from Madrid. Much lower taxes if you start your journey in MAD but obviously some inconvenience as you’d have to overnight in an airport hotel the night before - flight leaves at 12:00
I booked using my BA Companion voucher for next February and availability was good.

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